NEW CHAPTER OF DALIT POLITICS OR DIRECT CHALLENGE TO THE GRAND ALLIANCE

NEW CHAPTER OF DALIT POLITICS OR DIRECT CHALLENGE TO THE GRAND ALLIANCE

3-JULY-ENG 7

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA------------------------Announcement of NDA's new strategy from Shahabad region - Preparation to break into Dalit vote bank through Chirag Paswan

Bihar politics is taking a turn once again. This time Chirag Paswan is at the center, whom the NDA is pushing forward as a new strategic face, especially in the Shahabad region, which is adjacent to the borders of Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand and where politics has always revolved around Dalit, backward and leftist movements.

There are four major Lok Sabha seats in Shahabad region - Ara, Buxar, Sasaram and Karakat. At present, all these four seats are occupied by the Grand Alliance. In the 2020 assembly elections, the NDA had to face a crushing defeat in this region. Especially the defeat in the Sasaram seat shook the NDA camp to the core. Except Ara, the NDA could not even open its account anywhere. Out of 22 assembly seats, 19 went to the Mahagathbandhan, while BJP got only two seats and BSP captured one seat.

A major reason for this defeat was that at that time Chirag Paswan and Upendra Kushwaha had chosen a different path. This directly benefited the Mahagathbandhan, which along with the Left parties, established deep roots in the region. This region with a long background of Naxal movement, Ranvir Sena, and caste conflict has always been decisive in Bihar politics.

The number of Dalit voters in Shahabad region is large and for years this votebank has been associated with either Lalu Prasad Yadav's RJD or BSP. But now Chirag Paswan's activism can change this equation. According to sources, the NDA is now going to give Chirag Paswan a major role in the Shahabad region - and this is not just a plan to consolidate Dalit votes, but a comprehensive strategy to make Chirag the leader of the entire society.

The discussion of fielding Chirag from a general (non-reserved) seat is an indication that the NDA wants to present him not just as a Dalit leader but also as a potential candidate for the post of future Chief Minister. This will show a new leadership to those Dalit voters who are feeling marginalized after Nitish Kumar.

If sources close to Chirag Paswan are to be believed, he is considering contesting the upcoming elections from Jagdishpur assembly constituency in Bhojpur district. This decision will not only give him direct participation in the Bihar Legislative Assembly but will also give him a permanent and solid presence in the state politics.

The NDA faced an unexpected defeat last time in the Sasaram Lok Sabha seat, which is reserved for Scheduled Castes. LJP cut a large number of votes here and many rebel BJP leaders went with Chirag Paswan. Now Chirag is working towards strengthening the same support base again.

If he contests and wins from Shahabad constituency this time, it will not be just a victory of one seat but a political signal — that the Dalit politics of the NDA is now in the fray with new faces and is ready to challenge the combined influence of the RJD, BSP and the Left parties.